Portable money counting machine

ABSTRACT

Money counting apparatus comprises a housing having means for counting and sorting coins located therein, a rotary disk is mounted on top of the housing and is adapted to centrifugally separate and feed coins. A cover member is mounted above the disk. The housing and cover member are provided with cooperating interlocking means for selectively securing the cover on the housing in a first position enclosing the disk, and a second position inverted thereto to form a feed tray for the disk.

United States Patent Reis 51 June 6, 1972 PORTABLE MONEY COUNTING 1 References Ci MACHINE UNITED STATES PATENTS Inventor; Kalhflna Marla Relg, Bachenauer S". 2, 1 Downey 1 v ]9 7520 Bruchsa]. Baden Germany 686,611 11/1901 Hoey 133/3 E 3,359,993 12/1967 Trgon et a1. 133/2 [22] Filed: Mar. 12, 1970 Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman [21] Appl' 19054 Attorney-Richard Low and Murray Schaffer [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [5 ABSTRACT Mar. 15, 1969 Germany ..o 69 10 464 Money counting apparatus comprises a housing having means for counting and sorting coins located therein, a rotary disk is 52 US. Cl. ..133/8 R, 133 1 R 312/126, mum! P musing and is adapted centrifugally 312/282 separate and feed coins. A cover member is mounted above [51] Int Cl G07d 9/00 the disk. The housing and cover member are provided with I cooperating interlocking means for selectively Securing the [58] Field of Search 190/ 16, 206/16 E, cover on the housing in a first Position enclosing the disk and a second position inverted thereto to form a feed tray for the 7 disk.

1 PORTABLE MONEY COUNTING MAC l I BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for counting money and in particular to portable apparatus for sorting and counting coins.

conventionally, coin-sorting and counting mechanisms are provided with rotating disk-like members on which coins are separated and delivered to the counting means. The counting mechanism, itself, comprises one or more slide channels and related mechanisms in which the coins are sorted and placed in a common orientation for stacking or rolling into convenient form. The devices have been widely used in banks, large commercial establishments, automatic restaurants, etc. where large numbers of coins are circulated. Such devices, however, are large, heavy, cumbersome, and not easily transportable. Above all, they are expensive and unless constantly used are uneconomic. There is, therefore, a need for a portable money-counting machine which can be carried from one place of need to another, and which may be easily set up and placed in operation.

It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide portable money-counting apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide portable money-counting apparatus which may be easily and quickly set up and used and which has all the elements packaged in one unit.

It is a specific object of the present invention to provide money-counting apparatus which has a cover member which functions selectively as a closing member and as a tray member for feeding coins.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the present invention, the apparatus comprises a housing having means for counting and sorting coins located therein, a rotary disk is mounted on top of the housing and is adapted to centrifugally separate and feed coins. A cover member is mounted above the disk. The housing and cover member are provided with cooperating interlocking means for selectively securing the cover on the housing in a first position enclosing the disk, and a second position inverted thereto to form a feed tray for the disk.

In the preferred form, the machine is provided with a handle overlying the cover in the first position and foldable beneath the cover in the second position.

The present invention is fully described, and the objects and advantages illustrated in the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the following,reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to the present invention showing the machine in transport condition, and

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing it in operative condition.

DESCRIPTION As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine comprises a cast metal or similarly-formed housing 1 in which all of the operating components are located. The operating apparatus includes the conventional motive means, counting element switch mechanisms, etc. of an electrically-operated coin-counting machine, including an operating handle 2, a coin outlet 3 to which an extraction tube 4 can be secured and through which a coin sack or roll can be filled. The upper side of the housing 1 is provided with a built-up portion 11 in which the control elements are located and has mounted in a generally horizontal plane a rotatable centrifugal disk 13 for separating coins such as shown by the numeral 7 for delivery to the counting means. i

The separating means as well as the operational means are not shown in detail since these are generally well-known in the art and are not required to be elaborated on, for the purpose of understanding the present invention.

Pivotally mounted to the upper edge of the housing 1 is a U- shaped handle 5 which is movable into a carrying position overlying the housing 1 as shown in FIG. 1 or folded position as shown in FIG. 2. In the folded position, the handle 5 seats within a conforming recess 8 formed along the periphery of the housing 1.

A cover member, generally depicted by the numeral 6, is provided, comprising an upper surface 16, extending perpendicular from which are a pair of parallel side members and an end member all of which have the numeral 19. The side members 19 are each provided with extension 9 longitudinally passing beyond the corrunon transverse edge 12 of the top surface 16. The edge 12 is adapted to abut against the rear edge of the built-up portion 1 1, while the extensions 9 straddles the operating elements and engages the interior sides of the builtup portion 11. Fixed interiorly of the periphery of the sides of the housing 10 are gripping members 10 adapted to engage with the depending sides 19 as well as the leading edge 12 of the cover 6. As will be seen, the sides 19, the built-up portion 11 and the gripping means, coact and cooperate to interlock the cover on the housing.

The transport condition is shown in FIG. 1. In this condition, the cover 6 is placed on the housing 1 so that its sides 19 depend downwardly and seat on the housing 1 along its upper periphery. The extensions 9 enter into the built-up portion 11 of the housing and the cover securely closes and permits locking of the machine. In this condition, the handle 5 is free to move and can be placed as seen in FIG. 1 so that the machine can be carried.

The operating condition is shown in FIG. 2. Here the handle 5 is folded into the recess 8, the cover 6 is removed, inverted and placed over the edges of the housing 1 with the sides 19 extending upwardly to form a tray for the reception of coins 7. In placing the cover 6 in its operating position, the extensions 9 are also placed into the built-up portion 11 but the cover is permitted to overhang the rear end of the housing 1, so that the leading edge 12 of the cover is positioned substantially along the transverse diametrical axis of the centrifugal disk 13. In this manner, a'space is provided between the edge 12 and the built-up portion 11 through which the coins 7 can fall directly onto the disk 13. In this condition, the sides 19 straddle the gripping members 10 so that a spring-like action holds the covers 6 on the housing. In addition, the leading edge 12 of the surface 16 slides under the gripping members 10 so that the cover is firmly and securely held. The under-surface of the tray may be provided with guides, etc. to permit free movement of the coins onto the disk 3.

It will be apparent, that from the above-described construction, there is provided a money-counting machine which can be easily carried and transported from place to place. During transport, the operative elements, including the rotating centrifugal plate, is covered and the entire machine can be securely locked. The handle is easily movable and located to provide simple carrying means. The removable cover, serves the double function, as a closing cover, and as the feed tray for delivery of coins to the centrifugal disk during operation.

Furthermore, the structure of the cover, itself, and its interaction with the housing, particularly the built-up section and the gripping members, results in a firmly held and secured tray mechanism. That is, the cover, when placed in its inverted condition, cannot be easily removed, or vibrated out of position. The spring-like action between the gripping members and the sides assures fixed positioning of the cover, in both the transport and the operating conditions.

As noted earlier, the operative mechanism can be electrically motivated. It may also be hand-operated. Various other modifications may also be made which be apparent to those skilled in this art. Accordingly, it in intended that the present disclosure be illustrative only of the invention and not limiting in any way.

Whatis claimed is:

1. Apparatus for counting money comprising a portable housing having means for counting and stacking coins located therein, a rotary disk mounted on top of said housing for centrifugally separating and feeding coins to said counting means, a cover member, comprising a substantially flat surface portion having perpendicularly extending side edges along at least two of its parallel sides, said side edges having complementary extensions extending longitudinally beyond the common transverse edge of said flat surface, said housing being formed with means for receiving said extensions and means for gripping the side edge in cooperating interlocking fashion to selectively secure said cover on said housing in a first position to enclose said disk therewith, and in a second position inverted thereto to form a feed tray for delivery of coins to said disk, said housing including handle means overlying said cover when in said first position whereby said apparatus may be manually transported, said handle being foldable beneath said cover when said cover is in said second position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gripping means are formed to receive the common transverse edge of said cover surface when said cover is in said second position.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said gripping means are located along the peripheral edges of said housing at a predetermined point so as to maintain said cover, when in said second position, partially extending over the edge of said housing. 

1. Apparatus for counting money comprising a portable housing having means for counting and stacking coins located therein, a rotary disk mounted on top of said housing for centrifugally separating and feeding coins to said counting means, a cover member, comprising a substantially flat surface portion having perpendicularly extending side edges along at least two of its parallel sides, said side edges having complementary extensions extending longitudinally beyond the common transverse edge of said flat surface, said housing being formed with means for receiving said extensions and means for gripping the side edge in cooperating interlocking fashion to selectively secure said cover on said housing in a first position to enclose said disk therewith, and in a second position inverted thereto to form a feed tray for delivery of coins to said disk, said housing including handle means overlying said cover when in said first position whereby said apparatus may be manually transported, said handle being foldable beneath said cover when said cover is in said second position.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gripping means are formed to receive the common transverse edge of said cover surface when said cover is in said second position.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said gripping means are located along the peripheral edges of said housing at a predetermined point so as to maintain said cover, when in said second position, partially extending over the edge of said housing. 